Begonia plant named ‘Boriasko’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Boriasko’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; double flowers that are light red and pink in color and held above and beyond the foliage; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Begonia×hybrida cultivarBoriasko.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Boriasko’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, in June, 2000, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Barkos’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,523. The new Begonia was observed asa single flowering plant within a population of flowering plants of thecultivar Barkos. The selection of this plant was based on its uniqueflower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, has shown that theunique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Boriasko’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Boriasko’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Boriasko’ as a new and distinct Begoniacultivar:

1. Upright and rounded plant habit.

2. Double flowers that are light red and pink in color and held aboveand beyond the foliage.

3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia are most similar to plants of the parentcultivar Barkos; however plants of the new Begonia differ from plants ofthe cultivar Barkos primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivarBarkos have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the cultivarBazan, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,343, in flower color asplants of the cultivar Bazan have pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Boriasko’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘Boriasko’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Ermelo, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in aglass-covered greenhouse. Average day and night temperatures were about20° C. during the first three to four weeks then lowered to an averageday and night temperature of 19° C. until flowering. Four weeks afterplanting rooted cuttings in 12-cm containers, one week of longnyctoperiods of 16 hours was given followed by short nyctoperiods ofeight hours until flowering. Plants were about four months old when thephotographs and description were taken. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Boriasko.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemaliscultivar Barkos, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,523.

Propagation:

Type.—Cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—About 40 days at temperatures of 20 to 22° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, well-branched and spreading. Plants ofthe new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit; mounded inverted triangle;freely branching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers aredouble and abundant.

Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 12 to 15-cmcontainers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usuallyabout four months are required to produce proportional l3-cm pottedplants from cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes andflowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.—About 25 to 30 cm.

Plant width.—About 42 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Developing leaves, length: About5 to 6 cm. Developing leaves, width: About 5 to 6 cm. Fully expandedleaves, length: About 16 to 19 cm. Fully expanded leaves, width: About14 to 16 cm. Shape: Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex:Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture: Slightlypubescent. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fullyexpanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A to 139A. Developing andfully expanded leaves, lower surface: l91A to 191B. Venation, upper andlower surfaces: 146C. Petiole length: About 2 to 8 cm. Petiole texture,upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Petiole color, upper and lowersurfaces: 145A slightly overlain with 181A.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals arranged inaxillary cymes. Usually eight to ten flowers per cyme. Many cymes inflower simultaneously. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around regardless ofnyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly frommid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere. Floweringcontinuous.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 5.5 to 7 cm. Depth (height):About 2.5 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 to 1.8 cm.Color: 48A.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Rounded flabellate. Apex: Rounded.Margin, outer and inner tepals: Slightly crenate. Quantity per flower:Usually about 22 per flower. Size, outer tepals: Length: About 3.3 to3.6 cm. Width: About 3.7 to 4.2 cm. Size, inner tepals: Length: About 1to 1.3 cm. Width: About 1.1 to 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;satiny. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Center andtowards base, 52A; towards the margin, 49C. Fully opened, upper surface:Center and towards base, 52A; towards the margin, 49D. Fully opened,lower surface: Center and towards base, 47C; towards the margin, 49D.

Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Broadly cordate. Apex:Apiculate. Margin: Serrate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper andlower surfaces: 146B.

Peduncles.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 4 to 6 cm. Texture: Slightlypubescent. Color: Close to 180C to 180D.

Pedicels.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Texture: Glabrous.Color: 152B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed asreproductive organs are not formed.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.—Generally about two to three weeks.

Whole plants.—About six weeks under interior conditions.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toBegonia has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named‘Boriasko’, as illustrated and described.